Outboard motor assembly



Jan. 27, 1942., K, H, MacKAY oUTBoARD MOTOR ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 17, 1938 Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT y OFFICE OUTBOARD MOTOR ASSEMBLY Kenneth MacKay, Ocala, Fla. Application August 17, 1938, Serial No. 225,452

4 Claims.

.The present invention relates in general to l An important object of my invention is to prof vide a housing for an outboard motor which is 4adapted to ride at the surface of the water, the

housing being so formed that the cylinders and exhaust arevpartially exposed to the water whereby coolingof the motor may be eiected, without overcooling.

Another object'of my invention is to provide a housing for an outboard motor having integrally formed therewith a member which will enable the entire power plant to be turned at the will of the operator to steer the boat.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a housing for an outboard motor which is flexibly attached tothe boat by means of a hingedconnection whereby the motor may ride over obstructions.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an outboard motor which will ride over the ysurface of the water at a point adjacent thejrear of the boat in the wake of the boat with little or no water resistance.

Another object is to provide an assembly with power plant of low center of gravity which, because of its low position, may be fed by gravity from a tank within the boat.

Yet a still further object of my invention is to provide an outboard motor in which the ignition and carburization members are shielded from the water and in which the cylinders and exhaust may be at least partially submerged in the water, the exhaust serving to heat the water partially before the Water reaches the cylinders, thus giving an eiilcient temperature for operation.

To accomplish the above and other important objects which will hereinafter become more readily apparent, the present invention generally embraces the employment of a housing for the marine power plant which has integrally formed therewith a vertically extending member for enabling the motor in its entirety to be turned at the will of the operator to steer the boat. In addition, the housingis so formed that the ignition, carburetor and kindred members are shielded against contact with the surface of the water while permitting the cylinder and the exhaust member to be at least partially submerged in the water.

To makemy inventive concept more clearly and easily comprehended there is depicted in the accompanying drawing one embodiment for nate similar parts:

Figure 1 is a Yview yin side elevation partly broken away showing my invention. Figure 2 is aview taken along line 2--2` of 'Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental view of the cylinder and exhaust assembly shown in Fig- .ure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmental perspective viewof my exhaust disposing assembly.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figure 1, there is depicted a transom I of a boat of any suitable design. An outboard motor construction designated generally 2 is adapted to be attached to the transom I by the bracket assembly indicated 3. Apower plant 4 (to be later described more `fully) is enclosed in a housing 5 having rigidly attached at its forward end a substantially Vertically extending tubular member 6. While I have shown the tubular `member 6 being integrally formed with the housing 5, it is of course to be understood that these members can be lmade separately and secured together by any convenient means. Motor control members depicted 1 extend through the tube 6 and are suitably attached to their respective parts of the power plant.

As clearly shown in Figure l, the bracket 3 vcomprises a substantially U-shaped member 8 which is positioned over the upper edge of the transom I. The bracket 8 is provided with a clamp `member 9 which secures said bracket to the transom. yThe tube member 6 is journaled in a sleeve I0 which is provided with a collar Il at its upper end, and the collarv II is hinged to the bracket 8 as indicated at I2. A steering handle or tiller I3 is aflixed to the upper end of the tubular member 6 in any desired manner. Manifestly, the outboard construction 2 can be turned by the operator of the boat by manipulation of the tiller I3. v

It should be further noted that the U-shaped bracket 8 carries a pair of arcuate-shaped members I4. A plurality of aligned apertures I5 are formed in each member I4 and a pin I6 is adapted to be positioned in said apertures. The foregoing arrangement will enable the operator to Vary the set of the outboard motor from vertical. Provision may be made for raising or lowering the assembly 2 with relation to the bracket member 8 but this is not shown.

It is believed clear that the outboard motor assembly 2 can be swung upwardly about the pivot point I2.

I prefer to employ for my power plant assembly 4 an internal combustion engine-having diametrically opposed cylinders I8, a flywheel I9 to which is attached a simplex type starter designated 2Q, a carburetor 2| and the additional necessary elements not illustrated. A gasoline tank 22 is suitably aixed within the housing and a fuel line 23 is provided between the` tank 22 and the carburetor 2|.

As previously pointed out, a salient feature of the present invention is that the power plant housing is so formed that the cylinder block is at least partially submerged in the water. By reference to Figures l and 2 it can be seen that the lower wall of the housing 5 is formed in such a' manner as at 2t that the cylinders I8 will be exposed 'to the water. I-Iowever, the ignition systemand the carburetor assembly are within the housing 4 and there can ben no danger of injury to these parts by the water.

An exhaust disposing construction indicated 28 may be bolted to the cylinder block I8 in any suitable manner. Anl elongated `aperture 29 is vformed in the exhaust member 28V`and the exhaust 4gases from the motor may pass therethrough intoan exhaust pipe 3U. In View of the fact that my exhaust disposing construction is generallysimilar to that shown in my co-pending application Serial N Q. 222,028, filed July 29,

1938, I do not believe it necessary to go into a detailed description of tbisjassembly.

i It Should@ Observed in, Figures 1 and 4 that the forward portion ofV the exhaust 2,8 acts as a s coop inl picking up water andforcing it between 'the cylinder walland the lower Dar 0f the housing. As this water must first pass over part of the exhaust line it heatshup sufficiently to allow an efficient temperature of theA cylinder walls.

Referring te Figure 1.. askeg? is suitably affixed to the lower wall of the casing 5. A pro- 3 3 is journaledinV the skeg asshown at `374. The propeller 33 directly connected to the power plant by a shaftr 35. By connecting the propeller with the power plant the use of gearing will be eliminated and the motor can be more easily and cheaply manufactured. It should be further noted that the propeller-.shaft is positionedat an angle of approximately to the horizontal, However, the shaft can be positioned within a range of fromv 20 to. 35",. I have found that if the propeller shaft is disposedv at an angle less than 20, it is necessary to materially elongate the casing which of course is'A highly undesirable. On the other hand if the propeller shaft is mounted at an angle greater than the motor wlltend to push the boat upward. v

the

The skeg will moreover prevent any injury to the propeller blades when the motor strikes obstructions or the like in the water.

A cover 36 having an operating member is pivotally mounted in the top of the casing 5 to enable the operator to communicate with the power plant for the purpose of repair, replacement, etc.

It is believed obvious from the foregoing description that I have provided a housing for an.

outboard motor power plant which is so formed that the cylinder block and exhaust may be at least partially submerged in the water. Also, the vertically extending tube portion of the housing will enable the operator of the boat to turn the motor to effect steering thereof.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I Wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth by` way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention,l or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a power plant construction for impelling boats, a housing that is adapted to be partially submerged in the water, an internal combustion enginemounted within the housingQthe housing being so fo-rmed that the exhaust and cylinders are exposed to thewater, andI means. to heat the water before it contacts the cylinders.

2. In a power plantconstruct-ion for impelling boats, a housing that is adapted to be partially submerged in the water, an internall combustion engine mounted withinthexhousing, the housing being so formed@ that the cylinders are exposed tothe water, and an exhaust disposing member attached to each cylinder whereby the water is heated before it contacts the cylinders. Y

3., In a power plant constructionjfor impelling boats, al housing-that is adapted' tobe partially submerged in the water; an internall combustion engine mounted withinV the housing, the lower wall of the housing being so formed that" the cylinders are exposed to theV water., and'an eX- haust disposing memlzger attached; tol each. cylinder whereby the water is heatedI before it contacts the cylinders.

. (l. In apower plant construction for impelling boats,A a housingr that is, adapted to be partially subrn yigedin thewater, aninternal combustion engineV mounted within the housing, means. to attahnswingably the vhousing tothe boat, the

lowerwalt ofthe housing` being so formed that A therylinders, are exposed tothe water, an exberust-disposing member attached to each cylinder whereby the water is heated before `it contacts thewcylinder, and a propeller` shaft mounted atlthe'rear` ofthe Ahnising atan angle of approximately 30y fromthe horizontal'motion ofthe boat. ,l

. KENNETH H:- MACKAY.; 

